• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Brain Injury SA (BISA)

I prefer a Simple Format

Zoom Text

Search Search Icon

Brain Injury SA (BISA)

Embrace life after brain injury

MenuClose Menu
  • Home
  • BISA Info
        • Learn more about Brain Injury SA (BISA) and what we are all about

          Discover BISA

        • BISA Information Overview
        • Brain Injury SA History
        • About Us
          • Our Team
          • Staff Directory
          • Our Board
          • Our Credentials
          • Our Partners and Sponsors
        • Information on Brain Injury and BISA
          • Information on Brain Injury
          • External Links
        • BISA Resources
          • Service Brochures
          • Annual Reports
          • Videos
          • Disability Action Plan
        • Fees and Funding
        • Privacy, Dignity & Confidentiality Policy
        • Meet our Participants
  • Services
        • Be Well Plan – Starts 16 Feb: Northern Hub

          For families and carers of people with a brain injury.

          Explore Training

        • Services Overview
        • Rewire Therapy Services
        • Advocacy and Appeals Services
        • Social and Community Participation
        • Therapeutic and Educational Groups
        • Supporting People Find and Keep a Job
        • Case Management Services
        • Positive Behaviour Support
        • Regional Services
        • Peer Mentoring Program
        • Support for Families and Carers
        • NDIS Information
        • ABI Training and Education
        • Making a Referral to Brain Injury SA
        • Service Enquiry Form
        • Expore the full range of Services we have to offer

          View Services

        • Reconnect Transition Program (RTP): Starts 3 February – 14 April

          For people who have a traumatic brain injury from a road trauma.

          10 Weeks, Every Friday.

          Learn About RTP

        • Yoga & Mindfulness Meditation, Every Monday, Starts 24 Oct:

          60-minute sessions for people with ABI – 8 Week Program.

          Learn About Yoga

        • Working with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

          Interactive training for support workers working with people who have an ABI.

          August & October

          Explore Training

        • youth Reconnect Transition Program (yRTP): Starts 21 Oct

          For young people who have a traumatic brain injury from a road trauma.

          Learn About yRTP

        • Be Well Plan – Starts 26 Oct: Southern Hub

          A training program for families and carers of people with a brain injury – delivered over 5 weekly sessions x 2 hours each.

          Bookings are essential.

          Explore Training

  • Get Involved
        • Support us by volunteering, donating or getting involved!

          Donate Today

        • Get Involved Overview
        • Volunteering at BISA
          • Fundraising Volunteer – Position Description
          • Board Traineeship – Position Description
          • Volunteer Application Form
        • Supporting Our Campaigns
        • Make a Donation
  • Careers
        • Work with the Team at Brain Injury SA

          Positions Available: Advocate and Lead Occupational Therapist.

          View Jobs

        • Careers Overiew
        • BISA Facilities and Services
        • Students and BISA
        • Current Vacancies
          • What is Important to Us as an Employer
          • Testimonials
          • Interested in Employment Opportunities?
        • Work with the Team at Brain Injury SA – BU

          Positions Available: Lead Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist.

          For New Graduates: Expressions of Interest Open.

          View Jobs

  • News
        • Watch the REPLAY!

          Now Available on YouTube: Brain Injury Awareness Week Launch 2022.

          No two brain injuries are the same.

          Watch on YouTube

        • Latest News Posts
        • Upcoming Dates
        • eNewsletter Sign Up
        • Facebook Posts
        • Instagram Posts
        • Twitter Tweets
        • Check out the latest news and upcoming dates – connect with us on social media

          Follow Us

        • Brain Injury Awareness Week Launch 2022

          You’re Invited!
          Monday, 15 August 2022

          Attend this Event: In-Person or via Live Stream. Tickets are Open.

          Register Today

        • 2022 Brain Injury SA Award

          Nominations are now open for Brain Injury SA’s Embrace Life After Brain Injury Award.

          Closes: 1 August 2022.

          Nominate Someone Today

  • Contact
        • Get in touch with our friendly staff

          Call Us Today

        • Contact Information
        • Locations
        • Give Feedback
        • Making a Complaint
          • Complaining Procedure
          • Online Complaint Form
        • Making a Referral – Rewire Services
          • Referral Form – Rewire Services
          • Referral Management Information
          • Referral Q&A – Rewire
        • Making a Referral – Advocacy and Appeals Services
          • Referral Form – Advocacy and Appeals Services
  • Get Directions
You are here: Home / BISA Information / BISA Resources / Annual Reports / Annual Report 2021–2022 / The Importance of Connection and Sharing / Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021

Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021

Our annual launch of Brain Injury Awareness Week was held on Monday the 16th of August 2021 in the Ian McLachlan Room at the Adelaide Oval. Raising awareness in society is crucial for reducing the unnecessary barriers and misconceptions that people living with brain injury face every day.

Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: ABC’s Emma Rebellato speaking on stage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Liz Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer of Brain Injury SA, speaking on stage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: audience watching the presenter on stage

The launch is also a valuable opportunity to build awareness and bring the ABI community together to celebrate the achievements of people living with ABI. After having to restrict the numbers of in-person attendees the previous year due to COVID, it was excellent to be able to welcome over 250 people through the doors, as well as have over 200 more view the live-stream online.

This year’s launch was once again hosted by the ABC’s Emma Rebellato, and it was packed with informative and inspiring speakers. We heard from Amber Halliday, a three-time world champion rower who later turned her talents to professional cycling before suffering a severe TBI in a support race for the 2011 Tour Down Under. In an incredibly uplifting speech, Amber shared with us how she applied her sporting discipline and an attitude of hope and determination to adjust to life with a brain injury.

Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Amber Halliday speaking on stage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Amber Halliday rowing for Australia in Athens Olympics
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: audience watching
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Peter Jackson, DBH Lawyers speaking on stage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: audience watching

Gavin Williams is Professor of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation, a joint position appointed by Epworth Healthcare and The University of Melbourne. Since he began working at the Epworth Hospital 25 years ago, he has developed a program to teach advanced gait and running skills to people with brain injuries. He has since become a world leader in the assessment, classification and treatment of mobility limitations following TBI, and it was wonderful to hear how he is helping so many people to walk and run again and, by doing so, increase their independence and quality of life.

Dr Jenna Ziebell of the University of Tasmania took us through the excellent free online course “Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury” offered by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre”, which is playing a useful role in building awareness of TBI. Following this, it was time for personal stories of people and families with lived experience of brain injury.

Brian Matthews has severe expressive aphasia due to a stroke three years prior and shared his experiences and insights via an impactful video that was pre-recorded. Next, we had Sue Cocking and her husband Theo, followed by David Lee and his wife Sunny, interviewed by Emma onstage. These stories showed the reality and challenges of life after brain injury from both the individual and partner perspective, as well as being great examples of the incredible progress that can be achieved.

Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Brian Matthews shares his story on stage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Sue Cocking shares her story on stage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: David Lee and his wife Sunny, interviewed by Emma Rebellato onstage
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021: Lifetime Support Authority Chief Executive, Rick Howe, presenting Brain Injury SA's Embrace Life After Brain Injury Award onstage

Finally, Lifetime Support Authority Chief Executive Rick Howe presented the Brain Injury SA Embrace Life After Brain Injury Award. This was awarded to June Wright, for her exceptional dedication in working towards and achieving her goals for some 30 years following her brain injury. Her story demonstrated the power of everybody working together, including her parents, support team and therapists all pulling in the same direction to provide support.

As always, we are grateful to our Presenting Partner the Lifetime Support Authority and Gold Sponsor DBH Lawyers for helping us deliver what was a very enjoyable and successful event.

Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021:
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021:
Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021:

Presenting Partner: The Lifetime Support Authority

Gold Sponsor: DBH Lawyers

Lifetime Support Authority and DBH logos
Watch Brain Injury Awareness Week Launch 2021


Go to Next Section
Celebrating 30 Years

Primary Sidebar

Celebrating 30 Years

  • Annual Report 2021–2022
  • Chair Report
  • Chief Executive Officer Report
  • Services for Assistance
    • Rewire
    • Finding and Keeping a Job
    • Reconnect Transition Program
  • Services for Support
    • Case Management and Community Access Team
    • Be Well Plan for Carers
    • NDIS Appeals Service
    • National Disability Advocacy Program
    • Decision Support Pilot Program
  • The Importance of Connection and Sharing
    • Brain Injury Awareness Week 2021
    • Christmas Celebrations at BISA
    • Launching our New BISA Website – with Accessibility Front of Mind
    • In Memoriam
  • The Board
  • Financial Report
  • Back to Start
Back
Top of Page

Share this Page on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Find the information you want:

  • I am a Person with a Brain Injury
  • I am a Service Provider
  • I am an Employer
  • I am a Supporter or Carer

Need help or support?

Contact Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 Brain Injury SA: 70 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000 | Telephone: 8217 7600 | Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Give Feedback | Site Map